April 17, 2009UncategorizedComments Off on Auckland Papers Launch Campaign Against Supercity

Article – Spike Mountjoy

Auckland’s major community newspapers are urging city residents to fight the “supercity” with an email campaign directed at the Government. This week’s Aucklander, a local paper delivered free with The Herald, carries the editorial “Bomb Parliament! – …“Bomb Parliament!” – Auckland community newspapers launch email campaign against Government’s “Supercity” plans.

Auckland’s major community newspapers are urging city residents to fight the “supercity” with an email campaign directed at the Government.

This week’s Aucklander, a local paper delivered free with The Herald, carries the editorial “Bomb Parliament! – It’s the only way we’ll get democracy for Auckland”.

Both editorials criticise the Government’s selective approach to the recommendations of the Royal Commission’s Report on Auckland Governance, the move toward a less democratic model, and the Government’s failure to properly consult the cities’ residents.

The Aucklander says the Government’s changes amount to a total rewrite of the Commission’s report.

“John Key and Rodney Hide binned that report after less than a fortnight and one two-hour Cabinet meeting. Their own study came to a staggering 34 pages.

“There was no public input. It has been suggested Mr Hide consulted only one of the region’s eight elected leaders; at best his manner towards Aucklanders has been cavalier. You might be tempted to think they already had their own agenda.”